Taking small amounts of LSD and other psychedelic drugs could help to improve cognitive functioning, a new study has found.
The findings, published by Australia's Macquarie University, showed that "microdosing" has grown in popularity, whereby the typical "high" of psychedelic substances isn't really felt.
Instead, the consumer only tends to feel the positive effects such as enhanced productivity, better mood and concentration, as well as improved cognitive functioning.
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But the results weren't entirely positive. In the study, 98 microdosers had their activities tracked over a six-week period, and some reported experiencing neuroticism.
Lead author of the study Dr Vince Polito said while there were "clear positive impacts on depression, stress and concentration," there was "no evidence of expected improvements to creativity, wellbeing and mindfulness".
Lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as acid, is a well-known hallucinogenic that alters a consumer's thoughts and feelings, and increases blood pressure.
The drug works by blocking important serotonin receptors in the brain, and forces them to work differently, thus changing the electrical signalling that results in the hallucinogenic effects.
While there is no New Zealand research yet into microdosing, a group of scientists at the University of Auckland are looking into it.
Newshub.
